2013 Where We Go From Here Conference

Opportunities & Solutions for an Interdependent World

Get inspired to make change! In October 2013, Omega hosted a number of leaders and visionaries in the field of sustainability for the annual OCSL conference, Where We Go From Here.

With a unique whole-systems perspective that recognizes the interdependence of all things, the conference explored opportunities for an interdependent world and offered creative solutions to the complex global challenges facing us today.

The confernce is now available on demand, so you can benefit from the wisdom (and wit!) in keyote talks from Jeremy Rifkin, Majora Carter, David W. Orr, Janine Benyus, Paul Hawken, Rob Hopkins, Michael E. Reynolds, and Bob Berkebile, as well as a panel discussion, conversations between pairs of speakers, and spoken word poetry.

Janine Benyus, a biologist, consultant, and author of six books, including the classic Biomimicry, is cofounder of the Biomimicry Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes the study and imitation of nature’s remarkably efficient designs. biomimicry.net

David W. Orr is “counselor to the president” at Oberlin College and Steven A. Minter fellow at the Cleveland Foundation. He is founder and chair of the board of the Oberlin project and a founding editor of the journal Solutions.oberlinproject.org

Majora Carter, recipient of a MacArthur “genius” Fellowship, founded Sustainable South Bronx in 2001 when few were talking about sustainability, and even fewer, in places like the South Bronx. Since 2008, her consulting company, Majora Carter Group, has exported climate adaptation, urban micro-agribusiness, and leadership development strategies for business, government, foundations, universities, and economically underperforming communities. Majora Carter hosts the Peabody Award-winning public radio series The Promised Land. majoracartergroup.com

Rob Hopkins, author of The Power of Just Doing Stuff and The Transition Handbook, is cofounder of the International Transition Network, a charitable environmental organization. The Independent lists him as one of the top environmentalists in the United Kingdom. The Observer calls him “one of Britain’s 50 New Radicals.” transitionnetwork.org/blogs/rob-hopkins

Bob Berkebile is an influential sustainable design architect and community planner, a founding principal of BNIM Architects, and a board member of the U.S. Green Building Council, the Nature Conservancy, and the Center for Global Community. bnim.com

Robert "Skip" Backus, is chief executive officer of Omega and the visionary behind the Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL), the first green building in America to receive both LEED® Platinum and Living Building Challenge™ certification. For more than 20 years, he has played a leadership role at Omega as operations director and campus manager, maintaining all of Omega’s buildings. In this capacity, he helped Omega lay the foundation for its environmental initiatives. He frequently speaks about sustainability at a variety of venues. eOmega.org/ocsl

Carla Goldstein, JD, is Omega Institute’s chief external affairs officer and cofounder of the Omega Women's Leadership Center. An attorney with 25 years of experience in public interest advocacy, she has contributed to more than 100 city, state, and federal laws, and has worked extensively on issues related to women’s rights, poverty, public health, and social justice. eOmega.org/owlc

Maya Azucena is an award-winning singer, activist, and cultural ambassador. At the 2010 United Nations Summit, she was selected by the Office of Secretary General Ban Ki Moon as the exclusive performer at the Every Woman, Every Child event. She is also a cofounder of the multimedia website MDGFive.com that raises awareness for maternal health. mayaazucena.com

Rafael Casal is a writer, performance poet, recording artist, educator, and playwright. His poetry and music has been featured by major print and web editorials, and has been featured on HBO and MTV. He has directed numerous theater productions and film shorts, and taught creative writing and performance to high school and University undergraduate students. getrafael.com